The Dallas Cowboys will play their first game on July 25, and fans will be watching to see whether another playoff-caliber squad forms.
The Cowboys have the talent on paper. Last year, they advanced to the divisional round and added some fascinating new components in the winter. It will be intriguing to see how Stephon Gilmore, Brandin Cooks, and rookie defensive tackle Mazi Smith fit in. Their positions on the roster should be secure.
Other players on the Dallas camp roster, on the other hand, will not be assured jobs. Teams can take up to 90 players in camp, but must reduce that number to 53 by August 29.
Because the Cowboys have a pretty deep roster, some talented players will inevitably miss out on the final 53. We’ll look at three veterans who will need to perform well in camp to avoid making the practice squad or being cut outright. We’ll go into their specific circumstances and how they might be able to help Dallas if they make the club.
Neville Gallimore, DT
While Smith isn’t regarded as a particularly polished or pro-ready prospect, his addition will almost certainly leave one of Dallas’ current defensive tackles unemployed this autumn.
Neville Gallimore, a third-round pick in 2020, could be an outlier. Gallimore has never established himself as a full-time starter, and he only played 37% of the defensive snaps in his 16 outings last season.
Of course, having a deep defensive-line rotation is beneficial, and Gallimore might be a key asset during a long postseason run. As a part-time player last year, he had 33 tackles and a sack.
Gallimore, who is in the final year of his deal, would be a costly depth player. Releasing him would result in a $2.7 million savings in cap space.
Simply said, at that price point, Dallas may not have a spot for Gallimore. Osa Odighizuwa started 17 games last season, Smith is a certainty for the roster, and the Cowboys re-signed Jonathan Hankins to a one-year, $1.3 million contract this offseason.
Dallas already has $24.1 million in cap space, so it does not need to add any more. However, unless Gallimore shows to be vital during training camp, the Cowboys will likely try to go cheaper at the back end of their defensive-tackle rotation.
Ronald Jones II, running back
Following the release of longtime starter Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys might benefit from depth as well as seasoned leadership at the running back position. Ronald Jones II might be able to help.
Jones has 25 career starts and two Super Bowl rings with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s also a capable pass-catcher (77 career receptions), which will be useful in Mike McCarthy’s West Coast-oriented scheme.
Jones, on the other hand, will have to do something spectacular in camp to make the roster. Tony Pollard is poised to lead the backfield despite the fact that he is currently recovering from leg surgery. Dallas also has Malik Davis, who is expected to play in 2022, and Deuce Vaughn, a rookie sixth-round pick.
Elliott remains a candidate to return if he is ready to accept a decent arrangement to do so until he signs elsewhere.
Jones will have to demonstrate his ability to be a significant offensive contributor in order to make the team as the third or fourth running back. He hasn’t historically played special teams—as a rookie, he played 92 snaps on the third unit and has only seen six since—which Rico Dowdle does.
Dowdle has played 294 special teams snaps in his two seasons with the Cowboys, missing the 2021 season due to a hip ailment. Dallas would save $790,000 by releasing Jones, but it makes little sense to waste a roster space on a back who would be buried on the depth chart and will not help on special teams.
Jourdan Lewis, CB
At first glance, cornerback Jourdan Lewis appears to be a near-certainty for the roster. He’s been a productive defender for Dallas, especially in the slot, where he allowed an opponent passer rating of 74.2 last season.
Lewis, on the other hand, is coming off a foot ailment that restricted him to only seven games in 2022. He’s on the final year of his deal, and his injury last year may have aided Dallas in finding Lewis’ replacement.
With Lewis out, the Cowboys turned to rookie DaRon Bland. The 2022 fifth-round pick took over Lewis’ nickel duty before shifting to the perimeter to replace an injured Anthony Brown later in the season.
Bland performed admirably as a starter. He had seven passes defended, five interceptions, and an opposing passer rating of only 82.2 in coverage. Because of the presence of Bland, Lewis will have to demonstrate his fitness in order to reclaim his job. The 27-year-old is optimistic.
“I know by training camp I’ll be cutting and stuff like that,” Lewis told David Moore of the Dallas Morning News in June. “I’m just checking to see if it’ll go full speed.”
A club with championship aspirations can never have too many good cornerbacks, and Lewis, if he can recover from his injury, can be a wonderful depth player.
Anything less than a solid and healthy camp, however, will make Lewis a cut candidate. By releasing him, the Cowboys save $4.7 million in 2023 cap space while also providing Bland with a clear road to playing time.